1. ADVANCING VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition
Sherrie L. Nist
© Townsend Press

2. Unit Four: Chapter 22 • assimilate • indolent • belligerent • inherent
• demeanor • nonchalant
• denunciation • unassuming
• dissipate • unilateral
Page 122 in textbook.

3. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 assimilate – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 assimilate
– verb
• To assimilate into the culture of a new country, it’s essential to learn the language.
• The United States has often been called a “melting pot”— meaning that people of many cultures have assimilated, or blended together, within it.
Assimilate means
A. to be absorbed.
B. to spread thin.
C. to remain.
Page 122 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

4. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 assimilate – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 assimilate
– verb
• To assimilate into the culture of a new country, it’s essential to learn the language.
• The United States has often been called a “melting pot”— meaning that people of many cultures have assimilated, or blended together, within it.
Assimilate means
A. to be absorbed.
B. to spread thin.
C. to remain.
Page 122 in textbook.
Only by learning the language can one be absorbed into the culture of a new country. In the second item, the words blended together suggest that assimilate means “to be absorbed.”

5. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 belligerent – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 belligerent
– adjective
• When anyone contradicts Bruce, he becomes belligerent. He has often started fights with people who disagreed with him.
• Angie was suspended for her belligerent behavior during an argument with one of her teachers. She actually shook her fist at him and threatened to hit him.
Belligerent means
A. overly casual.
B. quarrelsome.
C. confused.
Page 122 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

6. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 belligerent – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 belligerent
– adjective
• When anyone contradicts Bruce, he becomes belligerent. He has often started fights with people who disagreed with him.
• Angie was suspended for her belligerent behavior during an argument with one of her teachers. She actually shook her fist at him and threatened to hit him.
Belligerent means
A. overly casual.
B. quarrelsome.
C. confused.
Page 122 in textbook.
By starting fights, Bruce shows he is quarrelsome. If Angie shook her fist at the teacher and threatened him, she was being quarrelsome.

7. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 demeanor – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 demeanor
– noun
• Troy’s demeanor was quiet and controlled, but inside he was boiling with anger.
• Proper demeanor during a funeral or lecture is obviously quite different from acceptable conduct at a ball game or rock concert.
Demeanor means
A. behavior.
B. feelings.
C. expectation.
Page 122 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.
Sailors and a minister showing
proper demeanor at a military funeral
Photo: US Navy

8. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 demeanor – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 demeanor
– noun
• Troy’s demeanor was quiet and controlled, but inside he was boiling with anger.
• Proper demeanor during a funeral or lecture is obviously quite different from acceptable conduct at a ball game or rock concert.
Demeanor means
A. behavior.
B. feelings.
C. expectation.
Page 122 in textbook.
In contrast with the anger Troy was feeling, his behavior was quiet and controlled. In the second item, the word conduct tells you that demeanor means “behavior.”
Sailors and a minister showing
proper demeanor at a military funeral
Photo: US Navy

9. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 denunciation – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 denunciation
– noun
• The mayor’s public denunciation of the police chief angered many officers; local citizens, however, applauded the mayor’s public statement of disapproval.
• In an unusual denunciation of parents, the community leader said, “Parents have not been taking enough responsibility for their children.”
Denunciation means
A. appreciation.
B. ignoring.
C. criticism.
Page 122 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

10. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 denunciation – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 denunciation
– noun
• The mayor’s public denunciation of the police chief angered many officers; local citizens, however, applauded the mayor’s public statement of disapproval.
• In an unusual denunciation of parents, the community leader said, “Parents have not been taking enough responsibility for their children.”
Denunciation means
A. appreciation.
B. ignoring.
C. criticism.
Page 122 in textbook.
In the first item, the words statement of disapproval suggest that denunciation means “criticism.” The second item gives an example of a criticism.

11. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 dissipate – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 dissipate
– verb
• After twenty minutes of meditation, I find that the stresses of my day have dissipated, and I’m relaxed enough to enjoy the evening.
• Teddy hates catching a cold. When anyone is sneezing and coughing in his presence, he opens a window and fans the air to dissipate the cold germs.
Dissipate means
A. to blend.
B. to scatter.
C. to assemble.
Page 122 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

12. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 dissipate – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 dissipate
– verb
• After twenty minutes of meditation, I find that the stresses of my day have dissipated, and I’m relaxed enough to enjoy the evening.
• Teddy hates catching a cold. When anyone is sneezing and coughing in his presence, he opens a window and fans the air to dissipate the cold germs.
Dissipate means
A. to blend.
B. to scatter.
C. to assemble.
Page 122 in textbook.
If the person feels relaxed, his or her stresses must have scattered. By opening the window and fanning the air, Teddy is attempting to scatter the cold germs.

13. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 indolent – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 indolent
– adjective
• My indolent sister says that the most work she ever wants to do is clicking the remote control to switch TV channels.
• My uncle has been fired from three jobs for being indolent. He shows up on time, but he does very little work and leaves early.
Indolent means
A. destructive.
B. shy.
C. unwilling to work.
Page 122 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

14. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 indolent – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 indolent
– adjective
• My indolent sister says that the most work she ever wants to do is clicking the remote control to switch TV channels.
• My uncle has been fired from three jobs for being indolent. He shows up on time, but he does very little work and leaves early.
Indolent means
A. destructive.
B. shy.
C. unwilling to work.
Page 122 in textbook.
If all the sister wants to do is click the TV remote control, she is unwilling to work. If the uncle does very little work and leaves early, he has been fired for being unwilling to work.

15. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 inherent – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 inherent
– adjective
• An inherent danger of life in San Francisco is the possibility of earthquakes.
• Marco believes that kindness is inherent in human nature, but I think people are born selfish. Maybe we’re both right.
Inherent means
A. shrinking.
B. humble.
C. natural.
Page 123 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

16. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 inherent – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 inherent
– adjective
• An inherent danger of life in San Francisco is the possibility of earthquakes.
• Marco believes that kindness is inherent in human nature, but I think people are born selfish. Maybe we’re both right.
Inherent means
A. shrinking.
B. humble.
C. natural.
Page 123 in textbook.
Earthquakes are a natural danger. If people are born kind or selfish, those qualities must be natural rather than learned after birth.

17. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 nonchalant – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 nonchalant
– adjective
• My friend was very nonchalant about giving her oral report in class, but I was a nervous wreck about giving mine.
• Because the automobile is so commonplace today, many people have become nonchalant about traveling by car. In the early twentieth century, however, people saw driving as an exciting and risky adventure.
Nonchalant means
A. relaxed.
B. anxious.
C. angry.
Page 123 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.
A nonchalant dog

18. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 nonchalant – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 nonchalant
– adjective
• My friend was very nonchalant about giving her oral report in class, but I was a nervous wreck about giving mine.
• Because the automobile is so commonplace today, many people have become nonchalant about traveling by car. In the early twentieth century, however, people saw driving as an exciting and risky adventure.
Nonchalant means
A. relaxed.
B. anxious.
C. angry.
Page 123 in textbook.
In contrast with being a nervous wreck, the friend was very relaxed. In contrast with seeing driving as exciting and risky, people today are relaxed about it.
A nonchalant dog

19. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 unassuming – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 unassuming
– adjective
• In the business world, you shouldn’t be too unassuming. If you’re overly modest about your skills and achievements, for example, you might not get a promotion you deserve.
• As unassuming as ever, Alice accepted the award in a quiet, modest way.
Unassuming means
A. argumentative.
B. lazy.
C. humble.
Page 123 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

20. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 unassuming – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 unassuming
– adjective
• In the business world, you shouldn’t be too unassuming. If you’re overly modest about your skills and achievements, for example, you might not get a promotion you deserve.
• As unassuming as ever, Alice accepted the award in a quiet, modest way.
Unassuming means
A. argumentative.
B. lazy.
C. humble.
Page 123 in textbook.
In both items, the word modest suggests that unassuming means “humble.”

21. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 unilateral – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 unilateral
– adjective
• Tanya’s unilateral decisions are hurting her marriage. For instance, she recently bought nonrefundable tickets to Florida without consulting her husband.
• Many people believe in unilateral disarmament; that is, they think their own nation should give up all weapons of war even if no other country will do so.
Unilateral means
A. gradual.
B. one-sided.
C. group.
Page 123 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

22. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 unilateral – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 unilateral
– adjective
• Tanya’s unilateral decisions are hurting her marriage. For instance, she recently bought nonrefundable tickets to Florida without consulting her husband.
• Many people believe in unilateral disarmament; that is, they think their own nation should give up all weapons of war even if no other country will do so.
Unilateral means
A. gradual.
B. one-sided.
C. group.
Page 123 in textbook.
If Tanya bought the tickets without consulting her husband, her decision was one-sided. If only one side gives up its weapons, the action is one-sided.

23. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. assimilate B. belligerent C. demeanor
D. denunciation
E. dissipate
F. indolent G. inherent H. nonchalant
I. unassuming
J. unilateral
1. The eye is not necessarily a(n) _______ part of the reading process. Blind people can read Braille—a system of raised dots—with their fingertips.
2. Anger builds up if you hold it in. But expressing anger can help it to __________, leaving you much calmer.
Page 124 in textbook.
Answers: 1. inherent; 2. dissipate
The next slide explains the answers.

24. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. assimilate B. belligerent C. demeanor
D. denunciation
E. dissipate
F. indolent G. inherent H. nonchalant
I. unassuming
J. unilateral
1. The eye is not necessarily an _________ part of the reading process. Blind people can read Braille—a system of raised dots—with their fingertips.
inherent
Reading Braille is a kind of reading in which the eye is not a built-in part.
2. Anger builds up if you hold it in. But expressing anger can help it to __________, leaving you much calmer.
dissipate
Page 124 in textbook.
If you end up calmer, expressing anger must help scatter the anger, causing it to fade.

25. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. assimilate B. belligerent C. demeanor
D. denunciation
E. dissipate
F. indolent G. inherent H. nonchalant
I. unassuming
J. unilateral
3. Jerry is a(n) _________ child who frequently pushes and hits other children.
4. In a ___________ of the union, the company president said that its members were “selfish and narrow-minded.”
Page 124 in textbook.
Answers: 3. belligerent; 4. denunciation; 5. nonchalant
The next slide explains the answers.
5. It’s amazing how __________ kids can be about computers; they’ll work at the keyboard as casually as if it were a coloring book.

26. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. assimilate B. belligerent C. demeanor
D. denunciation
E. dissipate
F. indolent G. inherent H. nonchalant
I. unassuming
J. unilateral
3. Jerry is a ___________ child who frequently pushes and hits other children.
belligerent
Pushing and hitting other children show that Jerry is aggressive.
4. In a ___________ of the union, the company president said that its members were “selfish and narrow-minded.”
denunciation
Page 124 in textbook.
The president’s words are a strong expression of disapproval.
5. It’s amazing how __________ kids can be about computers; they’ll work at the keyboard as casually as if it were a coloring book.
nonchalant
The word casually suggests kids can be relaxed about computers.

27. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. assimilate B. belligerent C. demeanor
D. denunciation
E. dissipate
F. indolent G. inherent H. nonchalant
I. unassuming
J. unilateral
6. Because that boss herself is a workaholic, she thinks that anyone who works less than ten hours a day is _________.
7. Many Americans who live and work abroad make no attempt to _________ to foreign countries; they continue to eat only American food, speak only English, and see things only from an American perspective.
Page 124 in textbook.
Answers: 6. indolent; 7. assimilate
The next slide explains the answers.

28. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. assimilate B. belligerent C. demeanor
D. denunciation
E. dissipate
F. indolent G. inherent H. nonchalant
I. unassuming
J. unilateral
6. Because that boss herself is a workaholic, she thinks that anyone who works less than ten hours a day is _________.
indolent
A workaholic would think anyone working less than ten hours a day is lazy.
7. Many Americans who live and work abroad make no attempt to _________ to foreign countries; they continue to eat only American food, speak only English, and see things only from an American perspective.
assimilate
Page 124 in textbook.
By doing only what they did in America, such Americans are making no attempt to blend into the main culture of the other country.

29. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. assimilate B. belligerent C. demeanor
D. denunciation
E. dissipate
F. indolent G. inherent H. nonchalant
I. unassuming
J. unilateral
8. Even though Marta was the star of the team, she was always __________ and quick to give credit to the whole team for its successes.
9. Airport security guards are trained to observe people’s _________ so that they can notice and respond to any suspicious behavior.
Page 124 in textbook.
Answers: 8. unassuming; 9. demeanor; 10. unilateral
The next slide explains the answers.
10. Governments are usually reluctant to take __________ action in international disputes. They want other countries to join them in their efforts.

30. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. assimilate B. belligerent C. demeanor
D. denunciation
E. dissipate
F. indolent G. inherent H. nonchalant
I. unassuming
J. unilateral
8. Even though Marta was the star of the team, she was always __________ and quick to give credit to the whole team for its successes.
unassuming
A star who gives credit to the whole team is not boastful.
9. Airport security guards are trained to observe people’s _________ so that they can notice and respond to any suspicious behavior.
demeanor
Page 124 in textbook.
The word behavior suggests the word demeanor.
10. Governments are usually reluctant to take __________ action in international disputes. They want other countries to join them in their efforts.
unilateral
Governments that want other countries to join them are not one-sided in their actions.